Johanna Gerdes Ahrens

Source: Nobles County Newspaper -- date unknown, Date of Death: May 5, 1927

Surnames: AHRENS, GERDES, OBER, BESSER

Johanna Florence AHRENS was the second child of Mr. and Mrs. John F. GERDES.

She was born December 16th, 1883, at Streator, Ill. and departed from this life on Thursday, May 5, 1927 at the age of forty-three years, four months and nineteen days.

Soon after her birth she was received into the communion of the Triune (sic) God through Holy Baptism. In the year 1901, at the age of eighteen, she moved with her parents to Ewington and later the family settled in Brewster.

Her marriage with Mr. Frank J. AHRENS of West Heron Lake took place on April 21, 1912, the sainted Rev. H.J. MUELLER of Brewster officiating. Their wedlock was blessed with two sons, Raymond and Walter, both surviving her.

On December 22, 1912 she was confirmed by Pastor J. SOELDNER and since then has been an esteemed member of St. John's Lutheran church at Okabena.

Through suffering (sic) for some time past from several ailments she was able most of the time to perform her household duties, until about the Easter season just past when other illness laid hold on her and it finally developed into Pneumonia. From this even, she seemed to rally and hopes were high for an early recovery, but the Lord had decreed otherwise.

Thursday about two o'clock, after a rally at noon in which she conversed with her loved ones in a jovial mood, her condition suddenly changed for the worse and within the short plan of an hour her soul had deserted the body, death coming as a severe shock to the family and community.

Mourning her departure are her grief stricken husband, Frank J. AHRENS, and sons Raymond and Walter, her mother Mrs. John GERDES of Brewster, four brothers, Frank, Hie and George of Ewington, and John of Rolling Prarie (sic), Wisc., two sisters, Mrs. C.E. OBER of Worthington and Mrs. Fred BESSER of Brewster and a large circle of other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held May 8th, Mother's Day, at one o'clock at the house and later at the Lutheran church in Okabena. Burial in the Lutheran Cemetery south of town.

Mrs. F. AHRENS Funeral Sunday

More Than Five Hundred People Gather at Church. Perhaps the Largest Number Ever In Attendance at Local Funeral.

Nearly six hundred people gathered at St. John's Lutheran church last Sunday to pay their last respects to their esteemed neighbor and friend, Mrs. Frank AHRENS who passed away at her home south of town last Thursday afternoon.

Mrs. AHRENS had a wide circle of acquaintances and that they held her in high esteem was clearly in evidence last Sunday when they gathered here in such large numbers that many were unable to enter the church.

Funeral services were in charge of Rev. TRAPP, pastor of the local church with which Mrs. AHRENS has been a member for several years.

A Tribute to Mrs. F. J. AHRENS

Merry Spring with all its gladness
Comes to our joyful world to bless
Yet our hearts are filled with sadness
We must number one friend less.
In the grave so dark and lonely,
We must lay her form to rest
While her spirit joins the Angels
In that land forever blest.
We shall miss the gentle mother
When the flowers are in bloom,
We shall pick the choicest roses
To scatter o'er they tomb.
Yet we would not recall thee
>From that world so bright and fair
For we know that thou art happy
With they Savior over there.
Children, Husband, Sister, Brother
Through your sorrow gives you pain
Yet remember in your sadness
What's your loss is others gain.
(Della Ackerman)

Submitted by:  Colleen Fury Boose

Nobles County Genealogy

We are in a continuous process of providing free genealogical materials to all researchers who are interested in Nobles County.  You can help us provide a better service by contributing to our web site.  We are always seeking new information that will benefit the genealogical community.  Your generosity in submitting new material to this web site will be greatly appreciated.  Please contact Bryant Walker by clicking on "Contact Us" in the above menu if you have new material to submit and please make sure that it is not in violation of any copyrights.